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Pilots John Sessions (left) and Paul Wallis guide a World War II-era B-25 bomber over Washington state's Puget Sound region en route to Memorial Day flyovers on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

A Memorial Day cemetery service underway receives a flyover from Historic Flight Foundation's World War II-era B-25 bomber during a special Memorial Day flight on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Crew members perform an engine run on a restored World War II-era B-25 bomber at Historic Flight Foundation on May 29, 2017. It later departed a special Memorial Day flight from Everett, Wash.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren / special

B-25 pilot Paul Wallis checks the engine of a restored World War II-era B-25 bomber belonging to Historic Flight Foundation on May 29, 2017. It later departed a special Memorial Day flight from Everett, Wash., to honor fallen vets with cemetery flyovers.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Crew and passengers talk through a flight briefing at Historic Flight Foundation prior to a special B-25 bomber Memorial Day flight on May 29, 2017 in Everett, Wash.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

A Memorial Day cemetery service underway receives a flyover from Historic Flight Foundation's World War II-era B-25 bomber during a special Memorial Day flight on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Tahoma National Cemetery appears out of the window as a World War II-era B-25 bomber from Historic Flight Foundation overflies the cemetery's Memorial Day service in Washington state on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Tahoma National Cemetery appears front and center out of the nose window as a World War II-era B-25 bomber from the Historic Flight Foundation overflies the cemetery's Memorial Day service in Washington state on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

Pilots John Sessions (left) and Paul Wallis, guide a World War II-era B-25 bomber over Washington state's Puget Sound region en route to Memorial Day flyovers on May 29, 2017.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

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SEATTLE -- It's a beautiful Memorial Day in typically soggy Seattle. Many are out enjoying the last of the holiday weekend, but not pilot Paul Wallis. Instead, he's busy checking the oil on a restored World War II-era B-25 bomber.

Wallis, with the Historic Flight Foundation, is readying the 74-year-old airplane for a somber mission that has become an annual tradition for the Everett, Wash.-based foundation. In a short while, he and a small group of staff and volunteers will head out to conduct Memorial Day flyovers over cemeteries across the Puget Sound region.

“I’m really honored to fly this,” Wallis says shortly before the flight he would soon co-pilot. “I come from a military family. My brother was in the Marine Corps, my son was in the Marine Corps,” he adds.

His father was a B-25 pilot as well, flying the bomber in World War II. “So it means a lot to me,” he says.

Soon after, the engines roar to life, lifting the airplane into a blue sky. The first cemetery comes into sight quickly. Wallis and fellow pilot John Sessions line up the airplane for a head-on pass. It's the first of two designed to replicate the four points of the cross.

Below, rows of neatly arranged gravestones adorned with American flags pass below. The pilots complete the final pass, then turn to the west. The touch puts a literal meaning to the phrase "flying west," an expression often used figuratively after a pilot dies.

The pattern is repeated six more times throughout the day, for seven total. Five are planned; two unplanned flyovers come after Memorial Day ceremonies were spotted by the crew.

“It’s great to see all the people down there,” says Wallis.

Historic Flight Foundation has been doing these Memorial Day flyovers since a group of volunteers first suggested it to Sessions a decade ago. He green-lighted it and the volunteers quickly lined up for multiple flyovers, Sessions added.

“It went pretty well the first time we did it, and now we get calls shortly after the first of the year for places that would like us to visit,” says Sessions -- owner of both the Historic Flight Foundation and the B-25.

“It’s just a good day to take stock, however you can bring special attention to the day. This happens to be the way that I can do it,” said Sessions.

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Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Special for USA TODAY

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Pilots John Sessions (left) and Paul Wallis guide a World War II-era B-25 bomber over Washington state's Puget Sound region en route to Memorial Day flyovers on May 29, 2017.(Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY)